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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SERVICE-LEARNING

Is service-learning the same thing as community service or an

internship?

No, Service-learning is different from:

Volunteerism

…where the primary emphasis is on the service being provided

and the primary intended beneficiary is clearly the service recipient.

Service-learning aims to be reciprocal by allowing all participants to

be teachers and learners, and for all to serve and be served (Sigmon,

1979).

Community Service

…where the primary focus [is] on the service being provided as well

as the benefits the service activities have on the recipients. The

students receive some benefits by learning more about how their

service makes a difference without a learning agenda for the

students. Service-learning clearly outlines the learning goals for the

service.

Internships

…[that] engage students in service activities primarily for the

purpose of providing students with hands-on experiences that

enhance their learning or understanding of issues relevant to a

particular area of study without civic learning. Service-learning

includes a focus on civic responsibility.

Field Education

…[that] provides students with co-curricular service opportunities

that are related, but not fully integrated, with their formal academic

studies. Students perform the service as a part of a program that is

designed primarily to enhance students’ understanding of a field of

study, while also providing substantial emphasis on the service being

provided. The service-learning framework promotes civic goals,

which are often missing in field education.

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